Accidents in a Public Place

Slips or trips often result from lack of warning signs

The last thing you expect when walking down the road or into a shop is to fall and injure yourself. You expect that the road be properly maintained, free of hazards or if there are any that they be clearly marked so that you may avoid them. If a floor is wet at your local shopping centre, you expect to be told through some sort of sign.

By law, businesses, public authorities and home or premise owners must carry Public Liability Insurance. By law, they have an implied duty of care to keep you safe from harm when walking down the road or visiting their premises.

If you have been injured as a result of a fall in a public place, someone's home, a restaurant or shop, and that the accident was the result of a failure from the owners to warn you about possible dangers, you could claim compensation.

If your accident happened within the last 3 years, and whether your injuries are still bothering you or not, call us free on 0800 0371260 for a free assessment of your circumstances or leave us details of your accident online.

Claims against public liability are varied. The most common accidents are slips or trips on a public footpath as a result of poor maintenance. Generally, you could claim compensation if:

You had an accident in a building open to the public such as a shop, a bank, or a supermarket. It is the responsibility of the owner or occupier of the premises to ensure that you are kept safe from harm while you are visiting. In order for a claim to be successful, your appointed solicitor will need to establish a case of negligence. Often they will require photos of the area where your accident occurred.
You had an accident on a public footpath. Local authorities are responsible for the proper maintenance of public footpaths. Claims for accidents on public roads could be levelled against the local authority or against any company that is effecting repairs and fails to properly warn you of possible dangers (such as raised ironworks, holes, etc.)
You had an accident while visiting friends or family or on someone's private property. While it can always be awkward to pursue a claim for compensation against a member of your family or a friend, remember that claiming compensation is not about blame and punishment but rather about ensuring you are not left out of pocket as a result of your accident. If your appointed solicitor can prove that your accident was the result of the home owner's negligence, and if he has proper insurance protection, you could claim compensation.

In order for your claim for compensation to succeed, your solicitor will need to prove that someone else was at least partially at fault for your accident. If you are able to, we will need to see photos of where the accident happened. If there were any witnesses, take down their details so that they may be contacted. Finally, report the accident as soon as possible, either to the owner of the premises or to the Local Authority.

When assessing the likelihood of success of your claim, your solicitor will evaluate whether given the evidence that can be collected, the other party is likely to accept liability and therefore settle the case. Take advantage of our FREE Assessment service by calling us on 0800 0371260 or using our online form.

We believe that representing your claim for compensation is not enough. We should at the same time pro-actively help in your recovery to full health or ensure that you get the best possible short or long term medical care for your injuries.

Our first job is to provide you with the best possible legal advice. We do this by offering a FREE claim assessment service that you can access by calling us free on 0800 037 1260 or using one of our online forms to submit details of your accident.

Your case will be referred to one of Forum Law's specialist personal injury lawyer who will thoroughly assess your claim and tell you where you stand. If you decide to instruct us to represent you, we will then look into the possibility to offer you free medical treatment for your injuries or a replacement car.

For more information about how Accident Compensation 4 U can help you, why not contact us for a free assessment first, or start your claim online.